Timothy Cole (ca 1684 to 1760) and his Wife Apphia Pepper of Eastham, Mass.

Timothy Cole was born between 1684-1688 [based on likely age at marriage], probably at Eastham on Cape Cod, to Timothy Cole and his wife whose name is not known, although some researchers make a case for her being Ruth Smith. I have more research to do on that.

Timothy married three times, with his first two wives dying young. He married, first, Apphia Pepper, daughter of Isaac and Apphia (Freeman) Pepper,  on 2 November 1709, at Eastham. She was born Eastham 24 Feb 1687. Apphia and Timothy are my 9th great-grandparents on my grandmother Milly Booth Rollins’ side of the family. I wrote about Apphia’s parents here.

Timothy and Apphia had five children born Eastham: 

Doritha/Dorothy born 22 September 1710; died 8 February 1710/11

Doritha/Dorothy born 15 May 1712, died after 1760

Isaac born 30 May 1714; died after 3 Sept 1781; m. Anne Doane 

Susanna born 15 July 1716; died after 17 July 1756; m. Joseph Brown 

Apphia born 20 March 1718; died 27 June 1718

I descend from Dorothy who married Thomas Freeman. I wrote about this couple here.

Apphia Freeman Cole died 6 April 1718 at Eastham at age 31. Seems likely she died of complications from childbirth as her daughter was born just two weeks before. 

Timothy married, second, Elizabeth Sparrow at Eastham on 4 May 1721. 

Timothy and Elizabeth had one son, Timothy, born Eastham, 27 August 1722; died 4 May 1722 [likely an error for 1723]. 

Elizabeth died soon after childbirth, on 31 August 1722, at Eastham. 

Timothy married, third, Martha Almony/Alemony, 4 September 1723 at Eastham. They had six children born Eastham: 

Apphia born 5 October 1724; died after 8 June 1761; m. Nathaniel Bacon 

Martha the daughter of Timothy and Martha Cole born ca 1726; died 25 April 1728

Timothy 23 May 1728 at Eastham; died in November 1752

Martha born 9 March 1729/30; m. Freeman Higgins 

Elizabeth born 12 July 1732; m Lemuel Higgins 

Jesse born 11 August 1735 and died 10 December 1753

I honestly don’t know how people could bear so much loss. Of Timothy’s twelve children who appear in Eastham vital records, only five survived him. 

Timothy was part owner of a grist mill in Eastham, a very important service to offer townspeople. At the time Simeon Deyo wrote his history of Barnstable County in 1890, the pilings of Timothy Cole’s water mill were still visible in Orleans. 

In 1733 Timothy Cole claimed land that was granted to his father in Gorham Maine for the latter’s service in King Philip's War. On 23 Oct 1751 Joseph Brown (Timothy's son-in-law) purchased his proprietary rights in Gorham.

Timothy Cole and Joseph Doane were appointed in 1738 to find a suitable replacement for Rev. Samuel Osborn who was dismissed by the church in the south of Eastham. They hired Joseph Crocker to replace him. 

Timothy's name is on a list of men from Eastham who were Narragansett grantees.

The settlement of Apphia’s father Isaac Pepper’s estate on 29 July 1740 included three children of his deceased daughter Apphia Cole: Isaac Cole, Dorothy Freeman and her husband Thomas Freeman, Susan Brown and her husband and Joseph Brown.  All but Joseph Brown acknowledged the settlement on 6 July 1743.

Mr. Timothy Cole died 24 April 1760; he would have been in his 70s. Being called Mr” was an honorific, used to address gentlemen, professional men, and substantial citizens. Martha outlived her husband. 

People named in the 2 April 1760 will of Timothy Cole, yeoman of Eastham;  proven 6 May 1760:

His loving wife Martha, one-third of his personal estate except for his wearing apparel and farming tackling, and improvement of one-third of his real estate, housing, land and meadow except for his part in the grist mill.

Son Isaac Cole to receive two-thirds of his land and buildings in Stage Neck north of Joshua Cole and Joseph Cole’s wall above the mud swamp and the remaining third after Martha ceases to improve it; Timothy’s part of the grist mill; all his wearing apparel and farming tackling; two-third parts of right in the fourteen Sh[ear] Pochet N[?eck]; and two-thirds of meadow at Town Flats owned in partnership with Thomas Snow; two-thirds part cedar swamp by Seth Knowles; third part of six meadows and swamp after Martha’s ceases to improve it.

Daughter Dorretha Freeman one quarter part of any land not disposed of with his wife receiving her thirds.

Daughter Apphia Bacon one-quarter part of any land not disposed of.

Daughter Elisabeth Higgins one-quarter part and to his grandchildren Timothy Higgins and Apphia Higgins one-quarter part.

Daughter Susannah Brown has already received her part.

“Trusty son” Isaac Cole named sole executor.

Land at Pochet Island he bought of Benjamin Cole and Rufus Cole and land where Theodor Hopkins house stands are to be sold to pay his debts and funeral expenses. 

Witnessed by Richard Sparrow, Joshua Cole, and Seth Young.

It looks like perhaps someone signed on his behalf, initialed L.S.

source: The Patriot Ledger

Inventory of Mr. Timothy Cole of Eastham was taken 19 May 1760, no total is given. Presented to court by Isaac Cole, Richard Sparrow, Jonathan Linnell, Joshua Cole on 23 May 1760.

It included:

Land to be sold worth more than 37 pounds 

Land and meadow given to his daughters and grandchild worth more than 37 pounds

Meadow and cedar swamp given to Isaac Cole worth 18 pounds

Horse, ox, two cows with their calves, one heifer, one steer, two swine, three sheep

Wearing apparel

Beds, furnishings, linen 

Two cranes, hangers, iron ware

Brass, pewter, earthenware, silver cup, and other kitchen ware 

Guns, sword, and “warlike stores”

Spinning wheels, looms

Chests, tables, chairs 

Looking glass

Flax and yarn

Corn and rye

Books worth 8 shillings

Farming tackling, horse tackling, lathe

Sources Not Listed Above:

Mayflower Descendant, “Transcription of Eastham and Oreans, Massachusetts Vital Records,” 15:233, 1913

Barnstable County Probate 9:437-8 

Barnstable County Probate 12:68-9

Simeon L. Deyo, editor, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890

George Madison Bodge, Soldiers in King Philip's War, A Critical Accounting of That War with a Concise History of the Indian Wars of New England from 1620-1677, Leominster, MA, 1896

Susan E. Roser, Early Descendants of Daniel Cole of Eastham, Massachusetts, Friends of the Pilgrim Series Vol. 2, 2010